Fan fastening device

ABSTRACT

A fan fastening device used to fix a chassis having a plurality of fans to a housing. The fan fastening device includes two locking element and two lever assembly. Each lever assembly includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. Each first end is slidably fixed to one of the locking element, each second end is rotatably fixed to the chassis and resists the housing; the locking elements are pulled away from the housing to drive the lever assemblys pulling the chassis until the chassis is detached from the housing.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to fan fastening devices, particularly to a fan fastening device for a server.

2. Description of Related Art

A typical fan module of a server generally includes a fastening housing and a plurality of fans fixed on the fastening hosing. However, in the conventional product configurations, the fan module is typically fixed to the server by some screws. Thus, it is difficult to fix or detach the fan module to or from the server without a tool, such as a screwdriver.

Therefore, there is a room for improved in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary fan fastening device. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate their respective parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a fan fastening device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fan fastening device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a locking element of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a lever of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged and cross sectional view of the fan fastening device of FIG. 1 along a line of V-V.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged and cross sectional view of the fan fastening device of FIG. 1 along a line of V-V after a fan module is detached from a housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a fan fastening device 100 is for fixing a plurality of fans 200 to a housing 300 of an electronic device. The housing 300 includes a bottom board 301 and two sidewalls 303 respectively protruding from opposite edges of the bottom board 301.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the fan fastening device 100 includes a chassis 10, two locking elements 21 (FIG. 6) slidably fixed to the chassis 10 and two lever assemblies 30. Each lever assembly 30 is substantially H-shaped, includes two opposite levers 36 and a connecting element 37 connecting the levers 36. Each lever 36 includes a first end 32 and a second end 34 opposite to the first end 32. Each first end 32 is slidably fixed to one of the locking elements 21, each second end 34 is rotatably fixed to the chassis 10 and resisting one of the sidewalls 303. Pulling the locking element 21 can detach the chassis 10 from the housing 300.

The chassis 10 includes two opposite end panels 11 and two partition panels 13 located between the end panels 11. The fans 200 are fixed between the partition panels 13. The chassis 10 further defines two compartments 17, each of the compartments 17 is defined between one of the end panels 11 and near partition panel 13 for accommodating one of the locking elements 21. Referring to FIG. 6, each partition panel 13 spacedly defines a first locking groove 25 and a second locking groove 23. The first locking groove 25 and the second locking groove 23 successively lock with corresponding locking element 21 to position corresponding locking element 21 in a first state shown in FIG. 5 or in a second state shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, each locking element 21 is slidably located in one of the compartments 17. In this exemplary embodiment, each locking element 21 is substantially a hollow rectangular frame, includes a pressing arm 211, a hook 213, a connecting rod 215 and two opposite support panels 217. Each end of the connecting rod 215 is flexibly fixed to one of the support panels 217. The pressing arm 211 and the hook 213 are respectively protruding from two sides of the connecting rod 215. Each support panel 217 further transversely defines a sliding groove 40. Each sliding groove 40 is defined by a first groove wall 41 and an opposite second groove wall 43. To unlock the hooks 213 from corresponding first locking grooves 25 or corresponding second locking grooves 23, corresponding pressing arms 211 are pressed toward corresponding partition panels 13 to drive corresponding connecting rods 215 to rotate relative corresponding support panels 217 so the hooks 213 move away from corresponding partition panels 13 until the hooks 213 are out of corresponding second locking grooves 23 or corresponding first locking grooves 25. Each hook 213 includes a wedged surface 2131 used to guide corresponding hook 213 to be lock in corresponding second locking groove 23 or corresponding first locking groove 25. The locking elements 21 may be made of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or Polyurethane (PU).

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, each lever assembly 30 is slidably fixed to corresponding locking element 21 may by such a way: each lever assembly 30 includes two opposite poles 31 located at/near the first end 32. Each pole 31 is slidably accommodated in one of the sliding grooves 40 so each first end 32 is slidably fixed to corresponding locking element 21. In this exemplary embodiment, the poles 31 are respectively located at two opposite outer surfaces of corresponding lever assembly 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, each lever assembly 30 is rotatably fixed to the chassis 10 may by such a way: each lever assembly 30 includes two opposite shafts 33 located at/near the second end 34. The chassis 10 further includes a plurality of shaft holes 15 corresponding the shafts 33. Each shaft 33 is rotatably accommodated in one of the shaft holes 15 so each second end 34 is rotatably fixed to the chassis 10.

Referring also FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, each second end 34 resists corresponding sidewall 303 may by such a way: Each second end 34 spacedly protrudes a first limiting portion 351 and a second limiting portion 353, and defines a limiting groove 355 between the first limiting portion 351 and the second limiting portion 353. Each sidewall 303 protrudes a limiting block 53 accommodated in corresponding limiting groove 355. Each limiting block 53 includes a first limiting panel 531 and a second limiting panel 533 opposite to the first limiting panel 531 which successively resist corresponding first limiting portion 351 and the second limiting portion 353 to limit corresponding lever assembly 30 rotating relative the chassis 10. In this exemplary embodiment, when the first limiting portions 351 resist the first limiting panels 531, the locking element 21 is in the first state of FIG. 5; when the second limiting portions 353 resist the second limiting panels 533, the locking element 21 is in the second state of FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, each end panel 11 further defines a passage 51 for corresponding lever assembly 30 passing through, to resist corresponding limiting block 53.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, to detach the fans 200 from the housing 300, the pressing arms 211 are pressed to rotate toward the fans 200 so the hooks 213 are driven to rotate away from the fans 200 until the hooks 213 are slid out of the first locking grooves 25. The locking elements 21 are then pulled out of the compartments 17. At this time, the poles 31 slide in the sliding grooves 40 between the first groove walls 41 and the second groove walls 43, the lever assemblys 30 rotate around the shafts 33 until the second limiting portions 353 resist the second limiting panel 533 and the hooks 213 are locked in the second locking grooves 23. The locking elements 21 are pulled continually to drive the lever assemblys pulling the chassis 10 until the chassis 10 is detached from the housing 300 so the fans 200 are detached from the housing 300.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, to assembly the fans 200 to the housing 300, the pressing arms 211 are pressed to rotate toward the fans 200 so the hooks 213 are driven to rotate away from the fans 200 until the hooks 213 are slid out of the second locking grooves 23. The locking elements 21 are pressed toward the housing 300. At this time, the poles 31 slide in the sliding grooves 40 between the first groove walls 41 and the second groove walls 43, the lever assemblys 30 rotate around the shafts 33 until the first limiting portions 351 resist the first limiting surface 531 and the hooks 213 are locked in the first locking grooves 25.

It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions of various embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the exemplary invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A fan fastening device used to fix a chassis having a plurality of fans to a housing, the fan fastening device comprising: two locking elements; and two lever assemblies, each lever assembly including a lever, each lever including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; wherein each first end is slidably fixed to one of the locking element, each second end is rotatably fixed to the chassis and resists the housing; the locking elements are pulled away from the housing to drive the lever assemblies to pull the chassis until the chassis is detached from the housing.
 2. The fan fastening device of claim 1, wherein each locking element includes a pressing arm, a hook, a connecting rod and two opposite support panels; each end of the connecting rod is rotatably fixed to one of the support panels; the pressing arm and the hook are respectively protruding from two sides of the connecting rod.
 3. The fan fastening device of claim 2, wherein the chassis further includes two partition panels, the fans are fixed between the partition panels; each partition panel spacedly defines a first locking groove and a second locking groove, both of which successively lock with corresponding hook to position corresponding locking element in a first state or in a second state.
 4. The fan fastening device of claim 3, wherein when the pressing arms are pressed toward corresponding partition panels, corresponding connecting rods rotate relative corresponding support panels to drive corresponding hooks to move away from corresponding partition panels until corresponding hooks are out of corresponding second locking grooves or corresponding first locking grooves.
 5. The fan fastening device of claim 3, wherein each second end spacedly protrudes a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion, and defines a limiting groove between the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion; the housing includes two opposite sidewalls, each sidewall protrudes a limiting block accommodated in one of the limiting grooves.
 6. The fan fastening device of claim 5, wherein each limiting block includes a first limiting panel and a second limiting panel opposite to the first limiting panel which successively resist corresponding first limiting portion and the second limiting portion to limit corresponding lever assembly rotating relative the chassis.
 7. The fan fastening device of claim 6 wherein when the first limiting portions resist the first limiting panels, the locking element is in the first state; when the second limiting portions resist the second limiting panels, the locking element is in the second state.
 8. The fan fastening device of claim 2, wherein each lever assembly includes two opposite poles located near the first end, each locking element further includes two sliding grooves respectively defined in corresponding support panels; each pole is slidably accommodated in one of the sliding grooves so each first end is slidably fixed to corresponding locking element.
 9. The fan fastening device of claim 2, wherein each lever assembly includes two opposite shafts located near the second end, the chassis further includes a plurality of shaft holes corresponding the shafts; each shaft is rotatably accommodated in one of the shaft holes so each second end is rotatably fixed to the chassis.
 10. The fan fastening device of claim 2, wherein each hook includes a wedged surface used to guide its corresponding hook to be locked in a corresponding second locking groove or a corresponding first locking groove.
 11. The fan fastening device of claim 2, wherein the locking elements is made of PVC OR PU.
 12. A fan fastening device used to fix a chassis having a plurality of fans to a housing, the fan fastening device comprising: two locking element; and two lever assemblies, each lever assembly including a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; wherein each first end is slidably fixed to one of the locking elements, each second end is rotatably fixed to the chassis and resists the housing; after the locking elements are pulled, the lever assemblys detach the chassis from the housing.
 13. The fan fastening device of claim 12, wherein each locking element includes a pressing arm, a hook, a connecting rod and two opposite support panels; each end of the connecting rod is rotatably fixed to one of the support panels; the pressing arm and the hook are respectively protruding from two sides of the connecting rod.
 14. The fan fastening device of claim 13, wherein the chassis further includes two partition panels, the fans are fixed between the partition panels; each partition panel spacedly defines a first locking groove and a second locking groove, both of which successively lock with corresponding hook to position corresponding locking element in a first state or in a second state.
 15. The fan fastening device of claim 14, wherein when the pressing arms are pressed toward corresponding partition panels, corresponding connecting rods rotate relative corresponding support panels to drive corresponding hooks to move away from corresponding partition panels until corresponding hooks are out of corresponding second locking grooves or corresponding first locking grooves.
 16. The fan fastening device of claim 14, wherein each second end spacedly protrudes a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion, and defines a limiting groove between the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion; the housing includes two opposite sidewalls, each sidewall protrudes a limiting block accommodated in one of the limiting grooves.
 17. The fan fastening device of claim 16, wherein each limiting block includes a first limiting panel and a second limiting panel opposite to the first limiting panel which successively resist the corresponding first limiting portion and the second limiting portion to limit the corresponding lever assembly rotating relative the chassis.
 18. The fan fastening device of claim 17 wherein when the first limiting portions resist the first limiting panels, the locking element is in the first state; when the second limiting portions resist the second limiting panels, the locking element is in the second state.
 19. The fan fastening device of claim 13, wherein each lever assembly includes two opposite poles located near the first end, each locking element further includes two sliding grooves respectively defined in corresponding support panels; each pole is slidably accommodated in one of the sliding grooves so each first end is slidably fixed to corresponding locking element.
 20. The fan fastening device of claim 13, wherein each lever assembly includes two opposite shafts located near the second end, the chassis further includes a plurality of shaft holes corresponding the shafts; each shaft is rotatably accommodated in one of the shaft holes so each second end is rotatably fixed to the chassis. 